tinfoil hats!http://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/5313/all
enHow To Stop Advertisers From Tracking Your Browsing Habitshttp://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_stop_advertisers_tracking_your_browsing_habits
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/advertisers620.jpg" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>Most of us who use a computer on a regular basis have had the unsettling experience of seeing online ads that fit our shopping and browsing habits follow us around the internet. By closely tracking our site visits, online purchases and web searches, search engines providers and advertisers are able to build up a made-to-fit portfolio of what might be appealing, and then inundate us with the propaganda for those findings no matter where we roam online. This might be unsettling for some.</p><p>Fortunately, it's easier than you might think to pull the blinds down on these digital peeping toms. Let <em>Mac|Life</em> show you how to turn your browser's privacy options up to eleven.</p><h3>Safari</h3><p><img src="/files/u286882/incognito.jpg" width="500" height="366" /></p><p>When <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_make_safari_work_rockmelt" target="_self">Safari</a> 5 hit the scene, it brought with it the ability to modify the browser's basic capabilities through the use of extensions. For those of us who prefer to do our browsing without Big Brother looking over our shoulder, <a href="http://www.orbicule.com/incognito/" target="_blank">Incognito</a> by Orbitcule is a must-have. The extension blocks <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/eric_schmidt_steps_down_google_ceo_larry_page_steps" target="_self">Google</a> Adsense, Google Analytics, and best of all, Facebook, from reporting your internet interactions back to advertisers and other information hungry parties keen on knowing what you do with your online time.</p><p>The extension can be downloaded for free directly from the Incognito website. Once you have it up and running, you can access Incognito's options via Safari's Extensions Manager, which is found in the Preferences pane.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/incognito2.jpg" width="500" height="390" /></p><p>Incognito also blocks Google APIs, embedded YouTube videos, and <a href="http://vkontakte.ru/" target="_blank">B Kontakte</a> -- a popular Russian language social networking site.</p><h3>Firefox</h3><p>For <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/firefox_4_may_cut_powerpc_support" target="_self">Firefox </a>users who want to keep their browsing habits from prying outside eyes, we recommend a free add-on called <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/trackerblock/" target="_blank">TrackerBlock </a>from the folks at <a href="http://www.privacychoice.org/" target="_blank">PrivacyChoice</a>. You can install the Firefox add-on directly from the link.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/add-ons-window.jpg" width="500" height="365" /></p><p>When you restart your browser, you’ll be greeted by a TrackerBlock window with a lengthy list of advertising companies. You can choose to block individual companies, companies without oversight or all of the companies on the list. It’s just that simple.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/trackerblock3.jpg" width="500" height="382" /></p><p>If at any time you decide that you want to allow companies to have access to your browsing habits once again, click on Firefox’s Tools menu. You’ll find that a TrackerBlock menu item has been added, giving you the ability to change settings on the fly.</p><h3>Chrome</h3><p><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hhnjdplhmcnkiecampfdgfjilccfpfoe" target="_blank">Keep My Opt-Outs</a> functions in a similar manner to TrackerBlock, but offers fewer customization options. For example, where TrackerBlock offers users three different tiers of protection, Keep My Opt-Outs can only be turned on or off.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/keep-my-opt-outs.jpg" width="500" height="339" /></p><p>If you choose to install the extension, it will be turned on by default. If at any point you decide to turn it off, select the the Window menu from the menu bar at the top of your screen and click Extensions, where you’ll be given the open to either enable or disable it.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/kmooenable.jpg" width="500" height="339" /></p><p>It's worth mention that Google, as part of their standard protocols, warns users that Keep My Op-Out might be capable of tracking user information. However, the extension's developer swears up and down that this isn't the case. As with any software, use your discretion when installing it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_stop_advertisers_tracking_your_browsing_habits#commentschromedo not trackFirefoxprivacySafariSecuritytinfoil hats!MacHow-TosMon, 31 Jan 2011 17:55:06 +0000Seamus Bellamy9734 at http://www.maclife.comMobile Spy for iPhone is Watching Youhttp://www.maclife.com/article/iphone/mobile_spy_iphone_watching_you
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/mobilespy380.jpg" width="380" height="112" /></p><p>If you own a smartphone--yes, even an iPhone--your private life could be about to get a lot less private, thanks to a company called <a href="http://www.mobile-spy.com/index.html" target="_self">Mobile Spy</a>, whose software allows for real-time viewing of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/iphone_and_ipad_tips_week_text_messaging_power_user" target="_self">SMS</a> activity, instant <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/keep_campin_out_wild_your_iphone" target="_self">GPS</a> tracking and the ability to view any photos or videos taken on a handset from anywhere in the world.</p><p>Once the Mobile Spy application has been loaded onto an iPhone, anyone with internet access and the correct password can log on to the company's website and track their target phone's usage, and subsequently, the phone's user. The smartphone's user will be none the wiser to the fact that they're being watched, as unlike other <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ios_401_iphone_and_ios_321_ipad_updates_are_released" target="_self">iOS</a> apps, Mobile Spy has no icon and no leaves no trace its existence in the handset's settings.</p><p>While Mobile Spy will no doubt be a Godsend in the eyes of Corporate IT types who are responsible for ensuring that their company's employees aren't abusing their cellular phone privileges, the software could also end being a serious bummer for kids with over-protective parents or people with creepy exes that "just want to be sure that you're OK".</p><p><object width="380" height="313" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCwbYmOCC5A&amp;feature" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCwbYmOCC5A&amp;feature" /></object></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/iphone/mobile_spy_iphone_watching_you#commentsNewsCorporate ITiPad AppsiPhone appsiPod AppsParanoiaSecuritySpy Apptinfoil hats!iPhoneMacTue, 09 Nov 2010 19:54:34 +0000Seamus Bellamy8867 at http://www.maclife.comApple Can Collect & Share User Location Informationhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_can_collect_share_user_location_information
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u286882/Location.jpg" width="380" height="220" /></p><p>The Devil is indeed in the details.</p><p>According to a report from the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/06/apple-location-privacy-iphone-ipad.html" target="_blank">LA Times</a>, if you're rocking an Apple device, that's been updated recently, you've agreed to allow Apple to collect and share your location data with any third party they choose. In a recent update to their <a href="http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/" target="_blank">privacy policy</a>, Apple nudged in a paragraph citing that by agreeing to adhere to their policy, users were also agreeing to the fact that the company could track, store and if they chose to do so, ultimately share location information gleaned from your Apple hardware:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.<br /><br />Some location-based services offered by Apple, such as the <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_launching_new_find_my_phone_app_and_mobileme_updates" target="_self">MobileMe</a> “Find My iPhone” feature, require your personal information for the feature to work.</em></p><p>Why would a user agree to such a thing?</p><p>Well, to be blunt, we loves us some updates. if you want to install any software updates provided by Cupertino, such as the latest version of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/itunes_version_92_now_available_download" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, you'll be asked to read and agree to Apple's privacy policy. Apple has stated that the information collected is anonymous and does not identify individual users. However, Arvind Narayanan and Vitaly Shmatikov, a pair of braniacs working out of The University of Texas at Austin, have written a <a href="http://userweb.cs.utexas.edu/%7Eshmat/shmat_oak08netflix.pdf" target="_blank">paper</a> detailing how large amounts of anonymous minor details can be used to souse out an individual's behavior patterns. As many more savvy iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users will tell you, there is an option to turn off Location Services built into the hardware's OS. This works fine and well as a Geolocation killswitch for downloaded applications, but there is no mention of whether swiping the Location Services toggle to off will have an affect on whether or not information will continue to be sent to Apple. Scary.</p><p>Apple's inclusion of such a stipulation in their privacy policy makes a good deal of sense when seen in the light of their soon to be launched <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iad_different_kind_ad_your_iphone_apps" target="_self">iAd</a> platform. Being able to provide potential advertisers with the the ability to tailor their content to coincide with the movement patterns of an individual user is a compelling feature to be sure.</p><p>If you're still afraid of Apple knowing all about your business, you can opt out of iAds. Just cruise to <a href="https://oo.apple.com/" target="_blank">https://oo.apple.com/</a> on your iOS device and you'll that much closer of anonymity.</p><p><object width="378" height="312" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YvAYIJSSZY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YvAYIJSSZY" /></object></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://twitter.com/SeamusBellamy" target="_blank">Seamus Bellamy on Twitter</a>. </em><br /><br /><br /></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_can_collect_share_user_location_information#commentsNewsappleiphoneprivacytinfoil hats!iPhoneTue, 22 Jun 2010 18:09:11 +0000Seamus Bellamy7352 at http://www.maclife.comNielsen Tracks App Store Buying Habitshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/nielsen_tracks_app_store_buying_habits
<!--paging_filter--><p>Want to know who's buying what from the App Store? There's a stat for that.</p><p>If you're an iPhone or iPod touch owner, the App Store means entertainment, information and a way to burn through cash. Developers dig that--after all, who wouldn't want to get paid for their hard work? <a href="http://en-us.nielsen.com/about/" target="_blank">Nielsen</a> understands this, and in much the same manner as they track what we watch on TV and what we buy offline, they've started tracking App Store purchases.</p><p>That's right, App Store shoppers--you're being watched.</p><p>In order to build a picture of consumer App Store purchasing habits, the folks at Nielsen rolled up their sleeves and got down to work, surveying over 4,200 App buyers who had downloaded an application in the past 30 days.</p><p>Nielsen didn't confine themselves just to iPhone users. They also picked the brains of Blackberry, Android and other less popular smartphone brands as well before posting the results of the survey to their<a href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/the-state-of-mobile-apps/" target="_blank"> corporate blog</a>.</p><p>If you love numbers, or at the very least possess the mental fortitude to resist the urge to glaze over while perusing them, it's worth a visit to the site.</p><p><img src="/files/u286882/top-smartphone-apps.jpg" width="360" height="784" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nielsen_tracks_app_store_buying_habits#commentsNewsApp Storestatisticstinfoil hats!Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:08:16 +0000Seamus Bellamy7093 at http://www.maclife.com